Sherryl Rojo-Vollmer:
CLASS OF 1969
Joliet East High SchoolClass of 1969
Joliet, IL
Laraway Elementary SchoolClass of 1965
Joliet, IL
Edna Keith Elementary SchoolClass of 1962
Joliet, IL
Parks Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Joliet, IL
Joliet Central High SchoolClass of 1959
Joliet, IL
Sherryl's Story
Life
Update: Feb. 1, 2014.. It has now been 18 months since Dale has passed. Still seems like yesterday to me. People tell me "Life Goes On," I have some very wonderful Memories to fall back on. I usually laugh, then cry, because he's not here to share the laughter. I'm going to try to go on... but when you have had a man like Dale in your life, it's a little difficult. For those of you who have your loved ones still with you, enjoy each day as if it were your last... I know we did! God Bless you all!
Update: On July 31st, 2012, my best friend and lifetime companion, Dale R. Vollmer passed on to be with our Lord. I miss him so very much. He was 72 and was diagnosed with cancer on January 11, 2012. I was blessed to have been a part of his life. My heart, of which he always told me "you are my heart, and I love you," hurts so much right now, I know it will take time to grieve my loss, but I'll never stop loving him. Thank you for letting me share this with you all. I'll update my history at a later date. 10/3/12 Sherry
Most of us have had the privledge of raising children. I've got three grown kids, Kevin 1970, Gary 1972, and Lori 1975. The boys were born in Las Vegas, their Dad was stationed at Nellis AFB. I am the proud grand mother of 4 grandchildren now. Tyler is 13 years old, she is Kevin's little girl. Kevin is engaged to Francine Butler. Gary and Julie (Bebar) are the proud parents of Jake 8, Alex 5 and Mia Elise who is 2yrs old. Lori is not married or has children, but loves them.
The kids and I moved to the great North, Hayward, Wisconsin in 1983. We fished, hiked and snow mobiled, all kinds of things. Most of all, we missed family and friends. We ended up coming home after three years. In 87, I went to work for Parkview Estates, a duplex home community, I loved it, I went to work for Dale Vollmer (the executive Director), a retired JPD Policeman, he taught me everything I know, we became the best of friends. We are now a team forever. He has a full time secretary (of which I get to play often), mind reader, phychic, and whatever other title that goes with the job description. He's pretty special, and so very good to me... So today, we've been happy together for 20 years... He has three grand kids Daniel 10, Chloe 10, and Molly 8. We have a total of seven, love them all the same. We still live in Joliet.
Grand kids are the spice of life. You never know what they will do or say. Like Tyler... She sits at my computer with her feet on my desk. Cordless keyboard in her lap, a music bud in the left ear, my cell phone in her right ear, playing a game online while Instant Messaging her friends, and all of this at the same time. I asked, "Tyler, what are you doing?" She said, "I'm multi-tasking Nana. Will you make me some noodles?" I told her to Multi-task her little butt into the kitchen and do it herself. Kids! I had to ask her to teach me how to download music on my MP3 player and how to use my new cell phone, kids today are just too smart! She tells me, "Get with it Gramma!"
The people I knew in High School thought I was quiet...people change. I've changed. Over the years, I've learned you will not be heard unless you speak up. I've also learned about Failure, "you fail if you don't try." I've taken a lot of chances in life. Some I'd rethink, but most of them... I would do all over again. In the past 20 or so years, I've grown. I voice my opinion's, debate issues, but most of all... I have a sense of humor, life has a way of kicking you in the pants, making you laugh and I look for that in people. If I can't laugh at life, my life, who can? Laughter is the best medicine.
School
I loved Joliet East High School and all of it's memories. GO KINGSMEN! I may mention a few of my classmates, hopefully you will remember some of these memories and laugh with me.
It took 20 years (at our Class Reunion) for me to confess to Jay Robinson that I was his Secret Admirer for all four years in High School. He never knew! We were in the same homeroom. Thanks Jay for being such a good sport in those days. I think the only person who might have known was Mr. Croft, our homeroom teacher. He caught me one day but kept my secret. Whatever happened to Jay's infamous poem, I believe it was titled, "Beavers."
Does anyone remember Bobby Butler? He would hang out by the boys washroom by Mr. Bluth's classroom. That was my uncle, we were in the same graduating class. To this day, he still tells me how he saved my virginity... he would tell all the guys they couldn't ask me out. Or he would personally beat each one of them up. It's no wonder I had to find a guy from another school. The only guy who had any courage to ask me out was Dirk Martin. He took me to my Senior Prom. A very special night for all of us who went and fell asleep watching 2001 Space Odyssey (after prom activites.) I had a lot of fun, Thank you Dirk.
What about Mr. Bluth's class, Problems of Democracy? Who knew I would have the mouth I do today. I can't shut it, I say what's on my mind... He brought out the debate in me. I remember falling asleep in his class after working a late shift at the phone company. He had his room set up in a U shape. I remember Linda Odenthal on my right, unfortunately I can't remember who was on my left, but I was sleeping on my books wi...Expand for more
th my hands folded under my face. All of a sudden, both of them elbowed me on each side, I jerked up in the sitting position. Mr. Bluth said, "Are we interupting your sleep?" I said, "yes, you are." I laid my head back down and went back to sleep. He ripped me after class, with a big smile. Remember our classroom giving him a pair of knee high moccasins? He really liked those. Linda O. and I had fun picking them out. I really liked his class.
I had one other teacher who really pushed my buttons, a lot of Laraway School kids will remember him, Mr. Gus Levaris. For three years I had to do "Weekly News Summary's." We all did them! In 1987, I was working at Parkview Estates as a Property Manager. He was a resident there. I had it all planned, I did a weekly news summary (for fun) and had it on my desk waiting for him to come in and pay his rent. I handed it to him when he walked in. He smiled and called me by my name, Sherryl. He actually remembered. I told him how he terrorized all of us in school. We had a really good laugh, I'm sure glad he didn't grade that news summary I gave him. He had a really great sense of humor, it only took 20 years for me to get to see it. As far as I know, he's still alive. (I must be getting old...) I would have to say, he really influenced my life. I read the paper every day, front to back.
I'll tell you this... I would like to know whatever happened to some of the following classmates. If you know what their up to, let me know... Gordon 'Beanie' Meade, Milton (Hairy Legs) Jenkins, Ray McDonald, Pat Austin, Dennis Warren, Steve Brockman, Dale Steffes, Ed Ruch, Dennis Watson, alright... so most of these are guys! We girls do a better job at keeping up with each other.
Hope I haven't bored anyone. If you have some memories, share them with me. I would like to help out with the 1969-2009 Class Reunion. Are you up to it? Sherry Curl Rojo-Vollmer
Workplace
After graduation from high school, I married my first husband who was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. I used to work at Illinois Bell before we were married and I worked split shifts. After we arrived in Las Vegas, he said it was time for me to get a job. I said I didn't want to work split shifts. He said, " You want bankers hours,okay." So he pulled in front of the nearest bank and said go fill out an application. So, I did and got the job. I worked in a bank as a teller for almost four years. Had two little boys while we were there. I loved being a teller. I met every customer with a smile on my face. I actually went to a Tellers Training School there. I met several stars on the teller line. Sammi Davis Jr. was so sweet. There was one man who used to come to my window every Friday to get his check cashed, he knew I was married. He would ask me every Friday... " How about you & me go out to dinner and dancing? Tell your husband you have to work over." This one particular Friday he came in with the same old line... This time I told him, "Why don't you tell him, Joe, he's standing right behind you." He turned around, and my husband was there... He said, " Give me my money and I'll leave quietly." I laughed. Try explaining that one to the husband.
After we returned to Joliet, I went to work at the Union National Bank for a while.
Later, while raising little ones, I needed adult company. So one of my friends got me a job working as a Banquet Waitress. That was loads of fun. I'd never done any type of waitressing before. My boss told me to get some B & B's. I went downstairs in the kitchen, I'm thinking, "Bottles of Beer?" I asked my friend where I could find the beer, she looked at me strangely. I then told her "Mr. B" asked me to get B & B's. She said, "Bread and Butter plates." We all had a good laugh after that. I gained a lot of respect for waitress's all over the world from that job. You'll always get my 15% tip.
After my divorce, the kids were in school, so I needed a job that would accomodate their schedule, I went back to being a teller, this time at the First National Bank at the downtown branch (now Harris Bank).
Then the kids and I moved to Hayward in Northern Wisconsin, I got a job up there in banking. Then a grocery store, hardware store, plus I used to do silly promotions for products for the stores. My kids still tease me about those jobs. I even planted evergreen trees. Plus, I did Sewing and Alterations for the 3 clothing stores in Hayward. After 4 years there, we came back home to Joliet in 1986. I worked in retail for a year.
Then I moved to Parkview Estates. The Executive Manager and I talked several times and he offered me a job. That is where my Property Management Career began. Dale Vollmer was the Exec. Manager., together we turned that property around. With all the experience I had with banking and dealing with people, I had learned so much. What I didn't know, he would send me to school and seminars. I loved the job, the tenants, and all the memories I have from that whole experience. We, Dale and I, managed several property's after that together. As we are today after 19 years. Together. He's the better half of my life. I'm now retired.
I miss working, I have health issues. I have great memories and met so many wonderful people. I think I've been pretty lucky.
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